Free agent Ted Ginn Jr. visited two of our NFC North teams as he tested the market, presumably in search of a role or contract better than what the San Francisco 49ers were offering. He must not have seen enough opportunity with either the Detroit Lions or Minnesota Vikings, because Ginn returned to the 49ers late Thursday night on a one-year contract.

In Detroit, Ginn would have been at best the No. 4 receiver. It's worth monitoring whether the Lions will bring back Stefan Logan considering Ginn likely would have replaced him.

Meanwhile, the Vikings' primary motivation to pursue Ginn might have been to relieve Percy Harvin of most return duties. The Vikings don't have a bevy of receiver depth, but Ginn took a pass regardless.

Continuing around the NFC North:

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew on linebacker Stephen Tulloch, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press: "Bigger than his production on the field is what he gives us in our locker room and what he means to our football team. His leadership, his toughness, competitiveness, football character, his work ethic, all of those things are really important to us and really a great example for our younger players."

David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune hammers Bears tailback Matt Forte for his public comments after the team signed backup Michael Bush. Haugh: "The more Forte expresses himself over his ongoing contract dispute, the less he comes across as a good guy. The more yards he gains, the more perspective he loses. This is what nobody in Forte's inner circle will tell him: Complaining about the Bears signing a player that improves the team casts him as a me-first prima donna, a pro sports cliché."